Two April shootings in Marietta that injured three teenagers were connected to gang violence, police revealed today as they announced multiple arrests in the cases.
What We Know: The Marietta Police Department has arrested five people in connection with two separate shootings that occurred just days apart in April 2025. Four people, including three adults and one child, were arrested for the April 19 shooting on Natchez Trace near Powder Springs Street where one teenager was shot twice and critically injured.
These arrests follow the earlier arrest of 17-year-old Xavier Moreno, who was charged with eleven felonies and three misdemeanors related to the April 21 shooting on Allgood Road near North Marietta Parkway. In that incident, two teenagers suffered serious injuries.
Police have now confirmed Moreno was involved in both shootings, which they describe as violence between members of two “non-traditional hybrid neighborhood gangs.”
What We Don’t Know: Police have not released the names of the gangs involved, citing concerns about giving them notoriety.
By The Numbers:
- 5 total people arrested across both shooting incidents
- 3 teenagers injured (1 in the first shooting, 2 in the second)
- 4 felony charges of Aggravated Assault with Intent to Murder for each suspect in the April 19 shooting
- 11 felonies and 3 misdemeanors charged against Moreno for the April 21 shooting
In Context: Gang-related violence has been a persistent concern in metro Atlanta communities. These “hybrid neighborhood gangs” often differ from traditional national gangs, forming around local territories and sometimes lacking the formal structure of established criminal organizations.
Take Action: Anyone with information about either shooting is urged to contact MPD Detective Hass at 770-794-5477. Community members concerned about gang activity can also reach out to local community outreach programs that work to provide alternatives for young people at risk of gang involvement.
⚠️ Reminder: Crime articles contain only charges and information from police reports and law enforcement statements. Suspects and defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
